Sheet-feeding mechanism.



J. P. GOODRIDGE.

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 21, 1905. 1,072,846.

Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. P. GOODRIDGE.

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED 00121, 1905.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

J; F. GO ODRIDGE. SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 21, 1905.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

\2 Inventor,

P a? WW1!!! ,Jitar Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

J. P. GOODRIDGE. SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION IILED 00w. 21. 1905.

1,972,846, Patented Sept. 9, 1913,

6 SHEET3SHEET 4.

flavaadii m- Amm n J. F. GOODRIDGE. SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM. APPLICATIONFILED 001'. 21, 1905.

Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5.

JAMES F. GOODRIDGl-E, OF NElV YORK, N. Y.

SHEET-FEEDING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

Application filed October 21, 190 5. Serial No. 283,739.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES F. Goomnncn, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented an Improvement in Sheet-Feeding Mechanism, of which thefollowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, isa specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts]My invention aims to provide means for feeding'a'llkinds of flexiblesheets, and is particularlyhintended for the delivery of singlesheets,'suc h aspaper, to a printing press or the likcin \vli-atis knownas jobbing work, which, as itsv name signifies, embraces a wide range ofgeneral printing, embossing, scoring, and like operations. It- IScustomary to do all the-feeding for this kind of work by hand, in viewof the lack of sufficiently adaptable, positive, and quickly adjustablemechanism for the purpose. Accordingly I have devised mechanismpossessing suilicientmechanical adaptability and readiness of adjustmenttomeet the requirements ofthe job printer, my mechanism accommodatingitself automatically to operating on material of such varyingcharacteristics in thickness, texture, dimensions and quantity as aremet with in the general job printing business. It does not waste theoperators time getting it ready; is positive in itsoperation, and isadapted to all kinds of material so that there is no misfeeding andoiling of sheets; no stopping is required or replenishing the stock, andit is adapted equally Well to long or short runs of work; it hasdelicate operation without the usual delicate mechanical appliances, andhence it does not require that constant care and readjustment duringoperation which would otherwise be necessary. The complementary machine,with which it is used, may be of any suitable type, and it is alsouseful as a separate machine,- for counting, distributing and collatingsheets in any de- -sireu order.

I have shown my invention as applied to a printers use, the stack beingvertical,

as this form is usually preferred.- The.

sheets are automatically combed forward and the overhanging ,top sheetis then picked up. separated vertically from the pile, lifted bodilyforward, and fed positively thence to the complemental machine (whateverit may be). After each combing action, the overhanging top sheets aregently pushedbackand restored automatically in traly vertical stackformation. The sheets are taken one by one from the top of the stack,the stack is automatically raised (although the comber and pick-upmechanisnrarc arranged to automatically accommodate themselves to quitea variation of height and thickness). The sheet is positively held inall its shifting moremcnts, it therefore becoming unnecessary to gripthe entire sheet, so that in the preferred form of my invention thesheet is operated upon adjacent. one corner thereof, all the feedingmechanism overhanging or embracing that side and the adjacent portion ofthe sheet or stack, so the latter may extend to any distance in theopposite direction. As the stack grows small, the operator,withoutstopping the machine in any degree, supplies more sheets at thebottom beneath said stack and these are.

at once coupled to the automatic raising mechanism;- and in this way thestack becomes practically endless.

Besides the abovennentioned basic features of my invention, I havedevised a large number of relatively minor details which coiiperatetherewith and form the subject matter of varioussub-combinationshereinafter claimed along with. the leading features which are claimedmore broadly.

In the drawings, in which I have illustrated a preferred embodiment ofmyinvention,-Figure 1 is a right-hand side e1evation ofthe machine,parts being bro-ken away for clearness of illustration; Fig. 2 isaloft-hand side elevation thereof; Fig. 8 is a front end View of thecomplete 1nachine; Fig. 4 is a top plan View thereof, parts beingomitted for the sake of clearness; Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary \iews.in end and side levation respectively. of the carrier-brac t; Figs..7 11are views of the automat-i stcck-'1aising mechanism. Figs. 7 and 10bowing respectively, in top plan, the mechanism out of feedinqpositionand in feeding position, Fig. l) shou ing the mechanism in side:elevation. while Figs. 8 and 11 are fragmentary details of the.immediately adjacent parts: Fig. 19. is a longitudinal sectional view ofone of the rock shafts and adjacent parts; Figs. 13-15 are views of theclamping mechanism. Fig.

l3 being a section on the line 13,1 3 of Figs. 14 and 17, and Figs. 14and 15 being fragmentary views in top plan andside elevation of theclamping and stripping levers; Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 13showing a slightly different construction; Figs. 17 and 18 are sectionalviews showing the main elements of the feeding mechanism, Fig. 17showing the parts in the position assumed when the top sheet has justbeen engaged, and Fig. 18 showing saidtop sheet removed; Fig. 19 is afragmentary sectional. det-a'rlof the comber on the line 19, 19, Fig.18; Figs. 20 and 21 are sectional views on lines 20, and 21,respectively, Fig. 3; and Fig.22 isa cross-sectional detail on the line;22, Fig. 21.

In the particular embodiment'of my invention herein shown, I have shownthe mechanism mounted in a frame composed of opposite side frames 1, 2connected by a cross bar 3 and base plate 4. The paper or other sheetmaterial to be fed is shown as arranged in a vertical stack, two bodiesthereof 6, 7 being herein shown, although it;

- will be understood that my invention is applicableto arranging thestack of paper inclined or horizontal instead of .vertical, within thescope of the broader of the claims hereinafter contained. The stack ofpaper is held in a stack or hopper composed of a rear fence 8 which isL-shaped extendingforwardly at its lower end 9 in dove-tailed engagementwith the base plate 4, and itself grooved at 10 to receive a clamp 11tightened by a bolt 12 for securing a front fence 13 whose vertical bars14 extend upwardly parallel to the corresponding bars 15 of the rearfence .8, and both'provided with side flanges 16, 17 to form a sideguard to hold the stack of paper in desired position. At the'right-hand,front side of the stack the frame has a projecting, vertical T shapedway 18 and at the opposite side of the stack a. guide flange 19 forcooperating with the stack supports, which comprise, as herein fi'shown,two carriers 20, 21 each having a *"Xlowercross bar 22 and an uppercross bar 23 separated therefrom vertically to provide an opening 24 andstanding forward therefrom, as shown in Fig. 20, for receivingandsupporting a removable bottom plate 25 provided with a hand hold 26 andstop 27. Each carrier 21 has a heavy, depending guide portion 28provided at its edgewith a rack29for engaging a gear 30 on the shaft ofan adjacent hand wheel 31 mounted'on a projecting shaft 32 and movableoutwardly against astop 33 and inwardly to interlocked and drivenposition against a'shoulder 34. provided Withlugs or pins-35fitting'corresp'onding recesses 36 in the adjacent end of the gear30,whereby the stack supports may be either raised by hand, when thehand wheels and their gears are in the full line position Fig. 21, orraised automatically when in the opposite position locked with therotating shaft 32. The way 18 is cut awayat its lower end,':as indicatedat 37,"and the guide flange 19 terminates at As the paper in the hopperbecomes nearly 1:

exhausted, a fresh carrier frame 21 is, put in place in the manner juststated, the support ing plate 25 is then inserted and a body of paper 7is stacked thereon, whereupon the stack of sheets 7 and support are runup by hand into engagement with the'bott-om of the upper stack-supportand then the hand wheel 31 is shoved forward into its locked position.Thereupon the supporting plate 25 of the upper stack-support isWithdrawn from the upper body 6 of paper, the upper carrier-frame 20 isthen released and raised.

upwardly out of engagement with the ways 18, '19- and set; aside for usein like manner.

when a new supply of paper is needed. Inv

this way the stack is being constantly replenished from the bottomwithoutdisturbing or stopping the machine in any manner. This permitsthe feeding to be continuous. In feeding the paper fromthe top ofthestack, the desired object is to positively sepa-- rate a single sheetof"paper without fail,

from the stack at each feeding I movement,"

and for this purpose-I provide t-he mechanism shown in Figs. 1,2, 1218.Above the stack, adjacent the front thereof, is a rotary combing 'wheel39, which is arranged to bear down in contact with the top of the stackfor offsetting the upper sheets, as

shown clearly in Fig. 18,. the duration of the combing actionbeingfixedso that the paper is advanced to approximately a fixed point each time,whereupon the comber 39 is caused to raise from the stack, and'at thevsame tlme a clamping or presser arm drops on top of the paper and holdstheadjacent I sheets in their relative offset positions, with thetop-most sheet 41 overlapping the one beneath it. Thereupon a pick-up orlifting finger 42 drops and delicately engages the sheet with its bentend 43 see Fig. 18. Meanwhile a reciprocating feed plate-44 has beenmoving forward and as its forward lip 45 nears the front edge of thestack, the

pick-up finger or raising device 42 is lifted intocarrying positionor'clamping engagement with the forward edge of the sheet- 41, clippingit as in a vise against the under side of the arm 40,.which isbifurcated at 46 to receive the device 42. Continued raising of thepicloup finger, also raises the lever or arm'40 and carries the topsheet41 with it, thus separatingit from the rest of the'stack and holding itimmovably. The feedplate wept as otherwise required by the appendedcontinues to advance and enters its pointed end 4-5 beneath the sheet,as shown in Figs. 13 and 16.

As stated, the sheet it is heldimmovahly as in a vise between themembers 40 and 43, and, as the plate 44 advances its slant ing frontedges, see Fig. 4, gently separate the restof the sheet at either sideof the lip 45, permitting the sheet to be wholly separated from thestack and supported on the laterally extended ends of said plate at, sothat the. sheet is embraced by said plate and a clampingdevice or finger4:7 pivoted onv a bracket 48 projecting upwardly from said plate. Duringthe last portion of the advancing movement of the feed plate 41, a plateor tapper 49 swings against the offset edges of the released sheets leftby the separation of said sheet 41 and restores them to accurate,vertical alinement. .Justas this movement is completed, the clamp finger47 is brought into clamping engagement with the forward edge of thesheet 41, the clamp arm 40 is raised slightly, the releasedpick-up.finger 42 moves away into its upward position, as shown in Fig.2, and the feed plate 44 starts on its return movement carrying thesheet 4:1,held accurately clamped, which it delivers to feed rollers 50,51., the latter being automatically separated slightly to receive thesheet, as shown in Fig. 18, Thereupon the clamping finger 4 7 rises,releasing the sheet 41, and the feed rollers close on the sheet, andcarry it forward into the printing press or other complementary machine.The foregoing cycle of operations continues without interruption.

Various kinds of mechanical movements can be employed in carrying outthe leading features of my invention; as above outlined, with-out:departing from the spirit and scope of-my' invention, broadlyconsidered, and accordingly itwill be understood that in the followingmore detailed description I am not limited to the constructional detailsexclaims. 1

Power is derived from a main shaft- 52 provided with a belt-pulley Thecomher 39 is continuously rotated by a belt 54 en eaged with a pulley 55at on end on the shaft 52, and at-.its other end with a driven pulley 56on one end of a shaft 57 provided atits opposite end with a gear 58connected by idlers 59, 60with a gear (31 on the shaft of said comber 39or mounted in a swinging they should cling arm 62. see Figs. 2 and 4,fast on a shaft (53 in axial alinement with the shaft: 57, see Figs.- 4and 12. The shaft (33 is provided at its outer end with a rocker arm (54pivotally connected at by a slot. connection 66 to a rod 6? controlledby a cam (38 on the shaft 52 operating on a roll 69 carried by said rod67 which is slotted at 70 to straddle the shaft 52 and permit freemovement. The foregoing construction permits the comber 39, in thedownward position, to rest its weight on top of the pile of sheets, theslot 66 in the rod 67 allowing a back lash in..the connection, so thatthe comber wheel 39 can accommodate itself to any normal'variation inthe height of the stack or in the thickness of the sheets, and yet thecam action is positive, so that the timing of the combing action isaccurate and certain. it will be understood that the eomber itself maybe widely varied in construction, although I prefer to employ a rotarywheel or pair of disks containing peripheral rollers 71, as best shownin Figs. 18 and 19, as this construction most nearly approaches in itsresults the combing action .commonly performed by hand feeders, who,when they desire to offset the sheets, so that one sheet at a time canbemore readily sepa 'at'ed from the stack, commonly use a smooth,slightly resisting hand device which they rub gently over the top of thestack of paper in the same encral manner as contem )lated in m rinvention. At this point, it may be well to note that in general I aimto make my mechanism conform as nearly as possible to the usual handmethods, my invention residing in providing means for accomplishing theresults automatically instead of by hand and for accomn'iodating onemachine to all the varying requirements of the jobbers work.

The clamping or presser arm 40 constitutes another important feature ofmy invention. This arm carries opposite stripper fin ers 72 one at eachside nvoted at 7-3 and limited in their downward movement by stops 74being delicately pressed downward by spri 'igs 75 retained in studs 76.The result. is that when the arm 40 is raised from the stack, thesestripper fingers 72 cooperate with the pickup device 42 to strikeagainst the upper side of the top sheet, thereby tapping and jarring orstriking the succeeding sheets away from the top sheet (in case theretoby reason of static electricity or otherwise), and also serve to bend orarch the. paper, as shown clearly in Fig. 13, thereby perinitt'ing moreor less air to get between the sheet 41 and the adjacent sheet of thestack. This aids in preventing the clinging of the two together andfacilitates the separation of the sheet 4-1, upon the entrance of thelip 45. The arm 40 is cmiiteiwveighted and is fasten a sleeve shaft- 77surroumling, for convenience, the shaft (33 and providedwvith anadjustable collar 78 to which is attached. a spring 79 fast at its otherend to the hub of a lever 80 provided with a slot 81 for engaging a pin82 projecting from said shaft 77, see Fig. 3. The lever 80 is pivoted at83 to av rod S-i provided with a roll 85 engaged by a cam St'. The stoppin 82 bears such relation to and at its outer end has a slot 103loosely oted at 121 on an arm 122 extending from 'lever 101 which ispivotallyconnected with set position of the top-most sheet -11, whilereturning the combed portion of the paper' the slot 81 that the arm 40is always raised to the same height, but when the arm 40 moves in anOpposite direction thespring 79 comes into play and by its tensionholdsthe arm 40 down yieldingly. The tension of said spring can be adjustedby regulating. the collar 78 to give desired pressure to the arm 40..

The pick-up finger or clamping device 42 which coiiperates with the arm40 is carried by a block 87 pivoted in the free end of an arm 88 rockedup and down by a rock shaft 89 journaled in a carrier arm 90, see Figs.46, extending rigidly from a fixed rod 91, said rock shaft beingoperated by an arm 92 whose roll 93 engages a cam 94 on a shaft 95driven by miter gears 96, 97, shaft 98 and gears 99, 100, the latterbeing fast on the main shaft 52. The angular portion of the pick-upfinger 42 is controlled by a the outer end of the block 87 by a stud102,

embracing a pin 104 on the free end of a crank 105 rocked by a shaft106. The lever 101 is normally held so that the forward end of its slot103 engages said pin 101 by means of a spring 107 fast on the arm 88 andbearing down on the inner end of the block 87, whereby the pick-updevice 42 is always free to yield to the left, as shown in Figs. 17 and18, for automatically accommodating itself to whatever may be the offyetremaining under the positive control ofthe coiiperating levers 88 and101 as to its general position, and especially as to its pinching orholding movement. The shaft 106 is supported in thecarrier arm 00, seeFig. 6, and operated by an arm 108 whose roll 109 engages the under sideof the cam 94, said cams and connections mentioned being so shaped andproportioned as to give the resulting motions previously described.

Reciprocal motionis given to the feed plate 41 by a crank 110 formed inthe shaft 52, connected by a rod 111 to a ever 112 pivoted at its lowerend in the frame at 113 and at its upper end to a link 11 1 foroperating a slide 115, on ways 110 ofthe frame, which carries said plate4 1. The clamping finger 47 is rocked by a lever 117 whose roll 118 isin a position (see Figs. 1, 2 and 4) to engage the offset flanges orledges 119 of a rocking lever 120 when the feed plate 44 is in itsextreme positions, as shown in Figs. 17 and 18. The lever 120 isvpivthefixed bracket or hanger 90, and is operated by a double acting cam 123on the shaft 95, driven as already described. While various means may beemployed for stack to its original position after the top sheet has beenseparated, such as a reverse motion of the combing wheel 39 or otherdevice, I prefer to employ the tapper or vibrator plate 49. This plateis pivoted at 124 and 125 on the upper end of the rear fence 15 and isoperated by a rod 126 pivoted thereto-at 127 and to the outer end 128 ofa lever 129 pivoted at 130 to the main frame and carrying a roll 131 atits inner end engaged by a cam 132 on the main shaft 52 for transmittingthe desired vilntatory motion for tapping back the sheetls. The cam 132is so timed in relation to th'e travel of the feed plate 4.4. that thepushingback action on the paper takes place di -rectly prior. to thefull, backward position 'by means of a spring 14-2 secured to the arm137, see Figs. 1, 2 and 4-.

The sheets are kept automatically at the required level to coiiperateproperly with the comber 39 and the presser arm, pickup arm, feed plate,etc, by means of worm and worm wheel arrangements, which not' only serveto lift the paper stack, but also to lock it or prevent its settling. onthe inner ends of the shafts 32 are mounted worm wheels 143 engagingworms 144 on a shaft 145 mounted in brackets 140, 14-7 of the mainframe, said shaft having fixed on its upper end a ratchet wheel 148adapted to be engaged by a pawl .149 loosely'pivoted in the free end ofa bell-crank lever 150 operated bya pitman 151 connected to a pin 152projecting cccentrically from a collar 153 onthc upper end of the shaft95 justabove the cam 91 so that every time said shaft 95 is rotated thepawl l-l-9 is reci proca ted. the ratchet wheel 118 or not, depends uponthe height of the paper, and hence the op-' lVhether this pawl engagesthe paper as follows: Projecting rigidly upward from the pivoted arm (52whichcarrics the comber 39, is a bracket 154 having a fixed arm 155provided at its end with a depending portion .or lip 156, which,therefore, swings back and forth'wvitlrthe cor responding movements ofthe comber 39, and hence, as the combcr falls lower and lower with eachsuccessive feed of paper, the

.arm 155 and hp 150 move farther and farther to the right, Figs. 1, 710,and the hp 156 is thereby gradually brought into the path of aprojection 157 extending uppath of the oscillating arm 155; Themovements of the pltman 151 and the arm 155 are SO timed that said armswings forward,

just in time for its lip 156 to catch and retain the projection 157 ofthe pawl 149,

so as to render the latter inoperative unless the paper has become belownormal, in which case said lip is swung farther to the right, Figs.7-10, as shown in dotted lines in .Fig. 9, thereby permitting the pawl 119 to become active and operate the \vorin114 and worm wheel 143, whichin turn rotate the gears 30 and lift the rack'bars 29 and theirstack'supports 20-25.

In Fig. 16, instead of showing the strip pers separate, as shown at 72in Fig. 13, I have shown the stripper action as secured by forming theouter end of the arm 40 curved on its under side 161 so that. its outeredges 162 serve to bend the paper downwardly, as shown at 4:1, in verymuch the same manner as in the other embodiment of my invention shown inFig. 13. And in this connection, I wish to have it clearly understoodthat my invention in general may beembodied in a wide variety ofmechanical constructions, and that I have merely undertaken herein toshow that form of embodiment which I consider the best for generalpurposes and particularly the .best forjobbers work which requiresdelicacy of operation without delicacy of construction, as the usage isapt to be rough and severe. V

In use, let it be'supposed that the machine is empty- The operator firstinserts the carrier 20 at the points 37, 38 to engage the ways 18, 19and lifts the same until the rack 29 thereof has engaged the gear 30- ofthe lower operating device, whereupon the same is raised slightly by thehand wheel131 and then locked in position by pushing in on the handwheel. tom plate 25 is then inserted and is held by too cant-alive?action of the offset parts 22, 23. ()n this bottom 25 is placed a stackof paper and the carrier is then run up by hand or machine untilat theproper height to be engaged by the comber 39. The machine is thenstarted in action and the continuously rotating comber ol'l'sots theupper sheets, as-sllown in Fig. 17, whereupon the pick-up linger 42descends from its position shown in Fig. 2 to its position shown in Fig.18, resting yieldingly and delicately againstthe front edge of thetopmost. sheet, It is then lifted into positive pinching engngren'mntwith the front edge of the top The botward, as shbwn in Fig. 17, and itslip 45 enters beneath the arched or stripped sheet, as shown in' Figs.13' and 16. As said feed plate has" almost reached its forwyrdmostposition and the top sheet has been almost entirely stripped from thestack, the vibrating plate or tapper 49 comes into operation, pushingback the remaining otl'set sheets and alining them properly forsucceeding feeding movements. This plate also serves to retain the stackin proper formation while the top sheet is being fed. As this operationtakes place, the clamp finger 417 is brought into operation andserves'to clamp said top sheet 41 firmly against the feed plate, the,presser arm 40 and pickup finger 42 are disengaged from said top sheetand moved into the position shown in Fig. 2, and the feed plate carriesthe paper from the stack to the rolls 50, 51, which have meanwhile beenseparated to re ceire the same. As said teed rolls are During the latterpart of the aforesaid movements, the comber has again dropped upon thestack and offset the sheets, and the pick-up finger has lifted andclamped the topmost sheet, ready for the return movement of thefeed-plate.

The feeding continues until the stack is lowered materially, whereuponthe combcr falls sufficiently to cause the arm 155 carried thereby notto interpose its lip 156 in -the path of the constantly reciprocatingpawl 1 19, whereupon the autonmtic mechanism connected therewith becomesoperative for rotating the worm shaft- 145 and thereby automaticallylifting the stack to proper position without interruptimi of the feedingof the sheets therefrom. When the stack has become more or less cxliaustcd. the operator inserts another (iiirrier frame 21 in placebeneath the ways 1H, 1!) and engagcs it therewith in the same manner asthe previous carrier frame 20, inserts a, botloin-support 25 therein andplaces thereon a second stack 7 of sheets whi h he raises by the handwheel 31 against the bottomasup wrt 25 of the upper stack (5, lhcrcuponpulling out said upper plate 25 so as to bring the two stacks (i and 7together. The l'rcding continues without interruption being properlyattended to by the ailtonnitic nn-chanism already described. hleauuhilethe operator (listing-Wes the upper gear Cit) and its hand \vhechdfifrom the clutch pins 4 35 of the shaft 32 and runs up the carrier 20until it is entirely'free from the guides 18, 1t), thereupon removingthe same to he subsequently used beneath the carrier 21 for a thirdstack of sheets the same as before.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the operation of mymechanism is continuous and is adapted to all classes and character ofwork such as are metwith in jobl-ing work. Extremely thin sheets can befed with equal facility the same as thicker sheets and small sheets aswell as large sheets. The comber adjusts itselfirrespective of thethickness of the sheets and operates only long'enough to offset thesheets, doing so asnearly as possible the sam -as is ordimain causeheretofore of preventing automatic feeders from being commonly-employedby jobhers.

Viewing l ig's. 53' and -l-. it will be seen that the eombeix liftingand stripping mechanism. nml feeder are all supported at one side onlyof the machine so that the sheets ran project as far as required in theopposite direction: and as all the feeding movements of the sheets areaccomplished r. bite the individual sheet is tirmly clamped or heldagaiir-a shifting movement. it heeomt-s comparativetv unimportant thatthe sheet is grasped mainly at one corner.

l ha \e shown the feed plate -.tl.as extending a considerable distancefrom its support to the. opposite side of the machine. see

l ig. l, and it will be understood that this and other p rtions of thema hine. \vill be varied to sHit. the preferem'es or requirements inspecial cases. i

llaving described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is: i

t. A sheet-feeding mechanism, comprising means forsupporting a stack ofsheets, and feeding mechanism supported at one side of and overhangingsaid staclflthe ma-.

chine affording a. free and llll()l) tl'llt'tt(t spat-e at the rear andside of said overhanging feeding n'u'chauism for permitting freet'eedin'g llltn'tlllt 'llt of sheets of varyingsivles, saidfeedingmechanism including a comber for otl'settiug the outer endsheets. clamping means llor engaging and picking up the outermost sheet.and a feed 1 late' 'u'ovided with means f r engaging and positivelyfeeding forward said pickedatp sheet.

2. A sheet feeding mechanism, comprising means for supporting a stack ofsheets,

and feeding mechanism supportediatcne side of and overhangingsaid stack,including a comher for offsetting the outer end sheets, clamping meansfor engaging'and picking up the outermost sheet, a feed plate pro-.vided with means for engaging and posi tively feeding forward saidpicked-up sheet, and a tapper for restoring the stackto normal positionafterthe. feeding operation overhang said stack, feedingmechanism"ear.

ried by said (wet-hanging support in position to leave anunrestrictedSpaceon all but the one supported side, forsaid' stack of.sheets to extend horizontally I'freely, substantially without limit inthree directions, said feeding mechanism including-a projecting presserarm extendingfrom the overbanging portion of said support to engage] thetop side of a sheet, and cooperating means to engage the underside ofthe sheet in opposition to said prss'er arm;

.5. 'In a sheet-feeding mechanism, means for supporting astaek ofsheets, a yielding pick-up linger for engaging andilifting the frontedge of the end sheet, means cotiperat-' ing with saidfingerforgrasp'ing'said sheet immovable, means for entering beneath sa'idsheet and engaging tl e same, and means for releasing said pick-upfingerfrom said sheet when so engaged. v p

(3. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, means for supporting a stack ofsheets, a pick-up device for engaging and. lifting the end sheet. apresser arm, and mechanism for moving said device yieldingly forwardagainst the front edge of said'sheet, and up 'ardly with said sheetagainst said presser arm. t. i

T In a sheet-feedingmechanism, means for supporting a "stack of sheets,a presser arm. a. 'picleup tinger normally extending transversely acrossthe edge. of the paper when in cal'r \'ing position. and means forswinginyfsaid linger toward 'said arm and raising said lingerintoengagenlent with said arm, said linger havingalient endfonpinclr ingthe sheet against' said pfesseHirm.

S. In a sheet-feeding mechanism. means for supporting a stack of sheets,a presser arm. a pickup linger. and means for swinging said tingervieldingly toward said arm and raising said tinger into engagement withsaid arm, said finger having a bent end for pinching the end sheetagainst said presser arm.

9. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, means for supporting a stack of sheets,and sheet separating means comprising a presser arm provided with meansat its opposite sides for depressing the adjacent portions of a sheet,and means cooperating with said presser arm for raising the intermediateportion of the sheet and thereby separating it from the stack.

'10. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, means for supporting a stack ofsheets, means for deflecting and separating a portion of the end sheetfrom said. stack, a teed-plate pro vided with a lip for entering beneathsaid deflected portion of saidsheet, said plate also having meanscooperating with said lip for separating the rest of the sheet from thestack, means for clamping the sheet to said plate when so separated, andmeans for movsaid stack.

11. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, means for supporting a stack ofsheets, means for separating the end sheet from said stack, a feed platefor engaging beneath and sup porting bodily said separated sheet, aclamp ing device cooperating with said plate for clamping said sheetstationary on the feed plate, transferring mechanism foreeceiving saidsheet from said pl'ate, and means for automatically operating-maidclamping device as said plate reaches'its sheet-engaging position, andalso as said plate reaches its sheet-delivering position. 7

In testimony whereof, Ihave signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses,

J AMES F. GOODRIDGE.

Witnesses Simmer, lVmNBEnG, FRED T. BARRY.

